Julian Nagelsmann starts today with two debutants!

Zenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – With a decimated core squad to become the underdog! Die German national team must be there this Friday evening from 8:45 p.m Nations League near Bosnia and Herzegovina. Actually, the DFB team is the clear favorite, but national coach Julian Nagelsmann (37) Some top performers are missing.

After the good start to the previously unpopular tournament with a 5-0 win against Hungary and a draw against the Netherlands, Germany can put themselves in an excellent starting position with regard to qualifying for the quarter-finals in the upcoming international double pack.

But it won’t be a sure-fire success. Seven players canceled the showdown in Bosnia and the second duel against Oranje (Monday, 8:45 p.m.) at more or less short notice.

Stay tuned to our live ticker for today’s national team performance!

François Letexier is working as a referee today.

The Frenchman will be supported by his assistants Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni. The fourth official is Jeremy Stinat, Willy Delajod looks on the screens as VAR.

Letexier has already led one game for the DFB selection: the 4-1 win on November 14, 2021 in the World Cup qualifiers against Armenia.

Less than half an hour left until kick-off, the duel between the DFB team and Bosnia is also on free TV today.

RTL reserves the rights and will broadcast the match. The station also shows the party on its paid streaming service RTL+.

If you can’t make it in front of the TV, you can of course always stay up to date with our live ticker.

There are many well-known names in the starting line-up for the German opponent!

With keeper Vasilj, Ermedin Demirovic, Armin Gigovic, Dzenis Burnic and Denis Huseinbasic, coach Sergej Barbarez sent five Germany legionnaires onto the field from the start.

Two former Bundesliga stars, Edin Dzeko and Sead Kolasinac, also make it into the starting line-up.

This is how the German national team started in the game against Bosnia-Herzegovina!

Alexander Nübel moves between the posts for the injured ter Stegen – and makes his DFB debut. The back four of Tah, Rüdiger and Kimmich are complemented at left back by Maxi Mittelstädt.

In the right midfield, Serge Gnabry can look forward to his comeback, while Tim Kleindienst is actually allowed to start in the attack and is also celebrating his debut in the German jersey.

With Tim Kleindienst, Jamie Leweling and Jonny Burkardt, three professionals could make their debut in the German national team today.

Nagelsmann announced in advance that Kleindienst would most likely even slip into the starting eleven and replace the injured Füllkrug and Kai Havertz.

The 1.94 meter giant had a rather poor start to the new season with Gladbach, but was still able to contribute three goals. Last season there were a total of 14 goals for Heidenheim.

“The call from the national coach was the nicest phone call I’ve ever had. But it still feels unreal, especially at this point in time, I never expected it,” said the 29-year-old in the Sportschau during the week.

The results of today’s duel speak in favor of the DFB team, but the two teams have not met very often.

Germany and Bosnia-Herzegovina have only faced each other twice so far. The selection of then national coach Joachim Löw won the last showdown 3-1 in June 2010. The goals in the friendly were scored by Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger (2) – and Edin Dzeko, who should be back on the pitch today.

They met for the first time in October 2002, also on a friendly basis. Carsten Jancker equalized Elvir Baljic’s opening goal in a 1-1 draw.

Not only does the coach of today’s opponent know Germany like the back of his hand, several of his protégés are also active here.

Nikola Vasilj (28) from FC St. Pauli should play between the posts, in front of him the usual veteran Ermin Bicakcic (34) from Eintracht Braunschweig was in charge of the defense.

There are also other current or former Bundesliga players. KSC professional Dzenis Burnic (26) recently started in midfield, while Denis Huseinbasic (23) from 1. FC Köln and Holstein-Kiel newcomer Armin Gigovic (22) came off the bench against Hungary.

The offensive also has a clear Bundesliga influence, as New Stuttgart’s Ermedin Demirovic (26) and captain Edin Dzeko (38), who even became German champions with VfL Wolfsburg, storm the most. Former Hertha player Haris Tabakovic (30), who now plays in Hoffenheim, and former Schalke player Sead Kolasinac (31) were also nominated.

Perhaps the Balkan nation’s biggest star is on the bench tonight – and is well known in this country.

Since April of this year, Bosnia has been coached by Sergej Barbarez (53). This is the former Bundesliga professional’s first position as a coach.

In Germany, the offensive all-rounder with his strikingly blonde hair played for Hannover 96, Union Berlin, Hansa Rostock, HSV, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. “Barba” has a whopping 330 BL games under his belt, collecting a strong 167 scorer points (96 goals, 71 assists).

“I have great feelings inside of me! It’s my home debut as a national coach – against my second home,” the 53-year-old told Kicker during the week. However, his start as national coach was unsuccessful – against very strong opponents. There were three defeats against England, Italy and the Netherlands before the series of defeats was stopped with a goalless draw in Hungary in September.

Not only does the decimated squad indicate a very difficult task for the national team, the venue also offers a special atmosphere.

The party takes place in “Bilino Polje” in Zenica. The stadium, surrounded by prefabricated buildings, only holds 13,632 seats; the stands are only partially covered and border directly on the lawn. The Bosnian second division team NK Celik Zenica usually plays here. It will also be rustic – and most likely heated.

The DFB team hasn’t played in a comparatively small arena for many years. “It’s charming. But we all played in stadiums like this not too long ago. It’s also quite healthy if you play in a stadium that isn’t very modern. It’s important that the grass is in good condition “, explained Nagelsmann in the run-up to the duel on the PK.

The national coach had wanted “as few changes as possible,” but he received a flood of rejections!

Seven professionals had to decline the invitation. The long-term absence of Marc-André ter Stegen (32) is particularly serious. Instead of following in the footsteps of Manuel Neuer (38), the season has already ended for the Barça goalkeeper with a torn patellar tendon.

Niclas Füllkrug (31), Kai Havertz (25), Jamal Musiala (21), David Raum (26), Benjamin Henrichs (27) and Robin Koch (28) are also missing.

Jamie Leweling (23), Tim Kleindienst (29) and Jonathan Burkardt (24) are there for the first time, Robin Gosens (30), Serge Gnabry (29) and Kevin Schade (22) are returning to the DFB team.